Why Peaceful Protests Matter
Whether a person is in Florida or Minnesota
On January 24, a peaceful Free America rally took place in Sarasota, Florida. It was a beautiful clear day with temperatures in the mid-70’s and as always, beautiful views that would make even the angels envious.
Starting at Island Park, the mood is always one of hope, because according to protestor Larry Richardson, peaceful protests get the job done. “How do you think the Berlin Wall came down?” he asked. “How do you think India gained independence from British rule?”
Yet, 1635 miles to the North, another scene was taking place in Minneapolis, Minnesota. As a blue state, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) targeted citizens with illegal and deadly tactics in order to meet an absurd quota in removing immigrants from the United States.
Today, we learned that in addition to Renee Good, a United States citizen standing up for Minneapolis immigrants and murdered by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement( ICE), another person was killed in the streets this morning.
With a photo circulating of a handgun that the victim was allegedly holding, it’s hard to know what to believe. When the photo came out, they were identifying the man as being 51 years old. He’s 37. It’s been determined he’s a U.S. citizen, working as an ICU nurse.
The National Border Patrol (NBPC) immediately posted on X: “When a supposed ‘peaceful’ protester brings a weapon (such as a loaded handgun) and brandishes it, there are going to be severe consequences and repercussions.”
Here comes the blame and gaslighting, which doesn’t come from a far-right extremist outlet, but our own government. This dangerous propaganda should scare every single American.
We warned the media and the politicians that their irresponsible, hate-filled and false rhetoric is going to get people unnecessarily hurt, or worse, killed when they portray our agents and officers as the aggressors.
The fake and dishonest media and the shameless politicians should be held accountable for willfully misleading the public and enticing these protesters and agitators. We have full confidence that when more facts are revealed, our agents and officers will be shown to have utilized justifiable force in eliminating the threat.
“Pull the thousands of violent, untrained officers out of Minnesota. Now.” - MN Governor Tim Walz, after the second deadly shooting of a protestor
Julie Rogansky writes in her Substack:
ICE has been transformed into a quota-chasing machine that hunts the easiest possible targets — not criminals, not traffickers, not violent offenders, but the people naive enough to believe that following the law would protect them.
Criminals are hard to catch. They don’t check in, provide an address to law enforcement, or show up for hearings. So instead, ICE goes after people who play by the rules to meet their deportation quotas.
Lynn Zarling’s sign read: “Somewhere in an attic, a little girl is writing about ICE”. If one thinks that’s a bit dramatic, it isn’t. The Associated Press reports that some immigrant children in Minnesota are in hiding.
Another sign seen at the rally told a similar story.
Richardson spoke of inspiration from Ghandi, who had said: “You may never know what results come of your actions, but if you do nothing, there will be no result.”
Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs
Holding her Dump Trump sign, Molly Henry spoke what most Americans know to be true: “Trump and ICE are fascists.”
Beavis, on the same narrative as Henry, said: “I support the constitution and laws in this country. This President and minion cabinets are tearing our country apart.”
Paulina Natsis- Barrett writes: “Don’t sleep on Florida. Oh, and none of us got a Soros check. We hate authoritarianism for free.”
The Kids
Richardson and Zarling jointly wouldn’t put their fingers on one specific reason why they come to the rallies “We’re here for everything. We’re here for the kids. The list is endless.”
In Sarasota, Kennedy Cole, the Political director of the SRQ Next Gen Democrats made a rousing speech at the rally.
Cole has been busy. Earlier this week, the Booker High School Junior made an impressive speech before the Sarasota County School Board members, urging against the board chair’s resolution to “cooperate and collaborate with ICE” in the district schools. (If a poll were taken, the board chair would have a 1% approval rating.)
To roars of approval from about 300 people remaining at the rally, Cole spoke boldly:
As a young person, I’ve always felt it was my duty to engage in politics, because even though we can’t vote, we can make our voices heard!
And this week, boy did we ever! After the school board introduced a useless, dangerous, and fear-inducing resolution requiring cooperation, Sarasota students showed up with one emphatic message: We don’t want that in our schools.
SRQ Next Gen Dems is proud to sponsor clubs from Booker all the way to North Port, and along with it, engaging hundreds of students in the civic process and bringing them into the Democratic Party to make real change. . .
Because for us young people, It’s personal.
It’s personal when ICE Agents kidnap a 5-year-old boy and use him as bait, before sending him thousands of miles away with no parents.
It’s personal when the EPA removes even more climate regulations, to the point where they literally value a human life as less than a dollar
It’s personal when our state government plans to racially gerrymander new districts, taking away the fair representation Florida voters wrote into our constitution.
It’s all personal, because it’s our future, not theirs.
On the National Scene
Veterans For Peace put up a billboard in Tucson, Arizona, to amplify a message from Sen. Mark Kelly and other Vets in Congress who released a video urging troops not to follow illegal orders.
Democrat Representative (TX) Jasmine Crockett introduced the TRACK ICE Act, which would mandate transparency in the regime’s immigration operations. ICE has been using privacy systems to hide deportation flights from the public, but Crockett aims to put an end to that.
After today’s shooting, Democrats renew their demand to impeach DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
Back at home in Sarasota, where those marching in protest earlier today may now be planning dinner, at the beach or enjoying all that this arts town has to offer, it’s the wise words of Richardson that resonate: “We must vote in November. This must end!”
To learn more about Next Gen Democrats, the link is here.
Sponsoring this event was the Democratic Womens Club of Sarasota. Their information is here.
Take any opportunity to thank your local law enforcement officer.
In the next Dear Bubbie. . .Public School Advocate Robin Williams passes along vital information to stop Schools of Hope from encroaching in Florida’s taxpayer funded public schools. This legislation, written and backed by a billionaire owner of a charter school enterprise can be stopped. Williams tells us how. A must-read.
Demonstrations make a difference as long as we don't give up.
Another great day hearing the voices of our youth, joining with people concerned about their neighbors and an opportunity to show solidarity in the face of a nation in crisis. What struck me was the overwhelming support offered by those in cars and trucks waving, honking and sending messages of commitment. A few distractors with loud engines, limited vocabulary and interesting hand gestures paled in comparison to the supporters. We have to keep our eyes on regaining our beloved country--encompassing all political persuasions--and take action after the demonstrations. Thank you for being part of this as you document, comment and challenge.